*DIS Contributors review meals, resort stays, and entertainment that they have paid for during their own vacations. They only utilize discounts and offers if they are available to the general public, such as annual passholder discounts, Tables in Wonderland, or DVC membership discounts. They receive no additional compensation for dining experiences or events, so that they may give their honest opinions about price and value.
The bustling Boardwalk Inn is home to Trattoria al Forno, simultaneously a sought-after character breakfast and a quietly delightful Italian joint in the evening hours. Ever since we first dined at this location a few years back, my family and I have loved every meal at Trattoria.
On our most recent vacation in November, we decided to make a breakfast reservation at this restaurant on an Epcot day, given its close proximity to the park. We rose at dawn to accommodate our early morning reservation.
Despite arriving a tad bit early, our temperatures were scanned promptly, and we were seated quickly. Usually, Trattoria al Forno is home to the Bon Voyage Breakfast where guests can meet with various adventurers before embarking on their own magical day, but as of now, there are no characters and a slightly varied menu with no starters (which previously included various princess-themed pastries). Despite the lack of boisterous characters, this restaurant continues to host a lovely atmosphere that is at the same time elegant and welcoming. This effect is accomplished by the juxtaposition of ornate gold and red ceilings and vintage Italian photos. This restaurant is also home to an open kitchen where chefs can be seen dutifully preparing appetizing meals.
Not only is the appearance pleasing, but the menu is excellent. The options are interesting without straying beyond the realm of normalcy. One can choose from pancakes, fruit, or multiple styles of eggs. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes that come with either a side of bacon or sausage (I chose the former), as well as a seasonal compote.
Since we visited in the autumnal season, the warm, powdered sugar-topped pancakes were served with a brown sugar apple compote. Although the servers also brought syrup and butter to the table to enjoy with the breakfast cakes, I opted to solely use the compote to enhance the deliciously fluffy yet dense pancakes. This version of the fruit compote was, in a word, delectable. The warm apple slices mixed with the compote itself remind one of a homemade dessert. Sweetness was most definitely the star of the show with this dish, but the apple component of the compote brought a delightful tartness to the otherwise nectarous entrée. The pancakes themselves were “practically perfect in every way.” As I mentioned before, they met a lovely compromise between fluffy and dense. The cakes were filling while maintaining their lightness.
This was an incredible meal, as I had expected, but sadly there was one component lacking in the dish: the bacon. It was a step above raw. The meat was mostly white and unpleasantly squishy, but there were parts of the bacon that were more thoroughly cooked. I was not thrilled about this aspect of my breakfast, but it did not mar an otherwise amazing meal.
I finished my breakfast quite satisfied with the delicious pancakes, only a tad disappointed with the undercooked bacon, which was only a minor issue. At $15, this dish offers a great value compared to other locations on property. All in all, characters or no characters, the scrumptious cuisine makes this underrated restaurant a must-do for breakfast.